The Dachshund

The Dachshund is clever, tenacious and willful. They can be manipulative, trying to train their master rather than allowing themselves to be trained. They have a surprisingly loud bark and are not shy about using it. They can be jealous, stubborn and may be quick to snap or bite.

The Dachshund has a propensity to be overweight. As a result of this, they may have spinal disc problems. They can develop heart disease, diabetes and urinary tract problems. Interesting Fact: There are three varieties of Dachshund: the short-haired, the wired-haired, and the long-haired. With each of these varieties there are three sizes-standard, miniature and tall.

The standard size dachshund was developed to scent, chase after and flush out badgers and other animals that burrow down.The miniature dachshund was bred to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits. In the US they have also been used to track wounded deer and hunt prairie dogs.

Dachshunds also participate in shows, field trials and many other events organized through pure bred dog organizations such as the American Kennel Club (AKC). According to the AKC, the dachshund remains one of the top 10 dog breeds in the United States.